Muzeum Broni Pancernej Centrum Szkolenia Wojsk Lądowych

History

The museum was established in 1963. It was located in former barracks in Sołacz district. For most of the Communist period, the only vehicles in the museum were those of Soviet (or USSR's satellites) production. After the fall of communism in Poland in 1989, the museum started to acquire non-Soviet exhibits (Western or Nazi German) as well.

The museum is located inside a single hangar, housing much of its exhibits, although some vehicles are stored outside.

As of 2012, major Tomasz Ogrodniczuk serves as the museum's curator.

In November 2013 it was announced that by 2015, the museum will be turned into a branch of Land Forces Museum in Bydgoszcz. This offers several advantages, the most important being financial aid from the state, and also that the museum will be opened for visitors for all year long. In January 2015 it was announced that the museum will be moved to an unused hangar near the Ławica airport by June 2017.

Excavations and restorations

In 2008, German Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun was excavated from Rgilewka river near Grzegorzew. It was moved to Poznań and by the summer of 2009, it was restored to running condition. As of 2012, it's the only running StuG IV in the world and one of three preserved examples at all (one is also in Poland and second in Latvia)

On August 5, 2011 German SdKfz 6 artillery tractor was excavated from Warta river near Białobrzeg. Exactly one year later, on August 5, 2012, its restoration was officially finished. Thanks to the restoration team's efforts, much of the vehicle is original (only the wooden elements and thinnest metal parts were replaced), though as of 2012, its engine is still being restored and it uses a replacement powerplant.

In April 2012 the museum acquired the wreckage of TKS tankette (lower hull only) and first presented it on June 2 of that year. The restoration took two years and was finished in May 2014. In October 2012, renovation of BTR-152 APC was finished. Almost simultaneously, the restoration of IS-2 heavy tank was launched. One month later, T-70 tank was also taken to repair shop. They were finished in June and February 2013, respectively.

In late 2012 a Renault FT tank was brought from Afghanistan, after it was identified as Polish tank captured by Red Army in 1920 and sold to the Middle East shortly thereafter. The tank was to be restored in Museum's workshop; however it was eventually sent to Polish Army Museum in Warsaw and restored by the end of 2013.

In June 2013, a Cruiser Tank Mk VIII Centaur Mk I was brought from Portugal. Such tanks were used by Polish Armed Forces in the West during World War II. Its restoration began in May 2014.

In September 2013, three new vehicles were acquired from Norway - a wreck of Panzer III medium tank, the M47 Patton main battle tank and the M88 Recovery Vehicle. It was the second time when museum worked with Norwegian authorities, the first being the acquisition of the TKS tankette. Thanks to the assistance from Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, another wreck was donated to the museum, and the two wrecks will be used to complete a single vehicle.

In June 2015, an M10 Achilles tank destroyer was donated to museum and is currently under restoration.

The restoration processes are presented on the museum's official website.

Exhibits

Exhibits in italics are under restoration and are not part of current exhibition (as of 2015).

Tanks

Self-propelled guns

Armoured personnel carriers

Artillery tractors and recovery vehicles

Other vehicles

Wrecks

Visiting the museum

Because the museum is located inside military area, it is necessary to acquire pass before entering it. Only groups are allowed. However during certain events (Child Day and CSWL Patron's Day at the end of September) civilians are allowed inside the facility without passes. It is expected that one the museum is moved to its new location, it will be open all year round.